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Understanding the Main Screen


ThispictureshowsthevariouselementsofChessCat'smainscreen.

UnderstandingtheMainBar
UnderstandingtheReplayBar
UnderstandingtheCaption
UnderstandingtheMenus
UnderstandingtheHeading
UnderstandingtheMoveIndicator
UnderstandingtheBoard
UnderstandingtheLabels
UnderstandingtheStatusBar
UnderstandingtheGameScore
UnderstandingtheAnalysisWindow(not shown above)

Understanding the Menus


ChessCatusesmenustoorganizerelatedactions.ChessCatdisablesmenuitemswhentheassociated
actionisnotavailable.TheChessCatmenusare:

FileMenu
EditMenu

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BoardMenu
ReplayMenu
ToolsMenu
ViewMenu
WindowMenu
HelpMenu

File Menu
TheFileMenuorganizesfileactivities.

Menu Item

Action

New

Opensanewgamewindow.

Open

OpensanexistinggamestoredinPGNformat.

Close

Closestheactivegamewindow.Promptstosavewhen
thegamehasbeenmodified.

Save

Savestheactivegame.

SaveAs

Savestheactivegametoanewfile.

OpenSelectionList

PresentstheSelectGameDialog.

OpenNextGameInList

OpensthenextgameintheSelectGameDialoglist.

OpenSavedQuery

PresentstheWindowsstandardfileopendialogwith
".pxq"asthefileextensionfilter.

FindGames

PresentstheFindGamesDialog.

ExportInReducedFormat

ExportstheactivegameinPGNReducedExport
Format.

ExportInStandardPGNFormat

ExportstheactivegamewithoutChessCatproprietary
PGNTagsandChessCatPGNescapemechanisms.

PageMarginSetup

PresentsthePageMarginSetupDialog.

Print

Printstheactivegame.

PrintPreview

Previewstheprintoftheactivegame.

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PrintSetup

PresentsthestandardWindowsprintsetupdialog.

Exit

QuitsChessCat.Promptstosaveanymodifiedgame
files.

Edit Menu
TheEditMenuorganizeseditactivities.

Menu Item

Action

Undo

Undoesthemostrecenteditaction.

Redo

Reappliesthemostrecenteditaction.

CopyGameasPGN

Copiesthegameintheactivegamewindowtothe
clipboardinPGNformat.

CopyGameasText

Copiesthegameintheactivegamewindowtothe
clipboardastext.PGNtagsarereplacedwithaheading
formattedasspecifiedbytheHeadingtabofthe
PropertiesDialog.

CopyPositionasBitmap

Copiesthecurrentpositioninthegameintheactive
gamewindowtotheclipboardasabitmap.

CopyPositionasDiagram

Copiesthecurrentpositioninthegameintheactive
gamewindowtotheclipboardusingthecharactersas
specifiedinthediagramfontkeyonthe
Notation/DiagramtabofthePropertiesDialog..

CopyPositionasFEN

Copiesthegameintheactivegamewindowtothe
clipboardinFENformat.

PastePGNGame/FENPosition

Pastesthetextcontentsoftheclipboardintothegamein
theactivegamewindow.Thetextmaybeagamein
PGNformatorapositioninFENformat.PGNtagsmay
beomitted.Thegameintheactivegamewindowmust
beempty.

DeleteMove

Deletesthecurrentmove.

GameTags

PresentstheGameTagsDialog.

MoveAnnotation

PresentstheMoveAnnotationDialog.

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SetupPosition

PresentstheSetupPositionDialog.

ToggleDiagram

Togglesthediagramindicatorforthecurrentmoveonor
off.

AdornPosition

PresentstheAdornPositionDialog.

Board Menu
TheBoardMenuorganizesboardactivities.

Menu Item

Action

Increasesize

Increasestheboardsizetothenextlargersize.

Decreasesize

Decreasestheboardsizetothenextsmallersize.

Reversecolors

ExchangestheorientationoftheBlackandWhite
pieces.

Board1-21X21

Selectsboardsize1.

Board2-34X34

Selectsboardsize2.

Board3-40X40

Selectsboardsize3.

Board4-50X50

Selectsboardsize4.

Board5-64X64

Selectsboardsize5.

Board6-80X80

Selectsboardsize6.

Set1-Linares

SelectstheLinarespieceset.

Set2-Hastings

SelectstheHastingspieceset.

Set3-Zurich

SelectstheZurichpieceset.

Replay Menu
TheReplayMenuorganizesreplayactivities.

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Menu Item

Action

Beginningofgame

Repositionsthecurrentmovetobeforethefirstmove.
KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+Home.

Priorvariation

Repositionsthecurrentmovetothepreviousvariation.
KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+UpArrow.

Firstmove

Repositionsthecurrentmovethefirstmoveinthe
variation.KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+LeftArrow.

Priormove

Repositionsthecurrentmovethepreviousmoveinthe
currentvariation.KeyboardshortcutisLeftArrow.

Nextmove

Repositionsthecurrentmovethenextmoveinthe
currentvariation.KeyboardshortcutisRightArrow.

Lastmove

Repositionsthecurrentmovethelastmoveinthe
variation.KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+RightArrow.

Nextvariation

Repositionsthecurrentmovetothenextvariation.
KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+DownArrow.

Endofgame

Repositionsthecurrentmovetothelastmoveofthe
mainline.KeyboardshortcutisCtrl+End.

Auto-Play

Replaysthegamefromthecurrentmovetotheendof
thevariation,orselectsmoveautomationwhen
ChessCatisinSolitaire.Keyboardshortcutis
Alt+Shift+A.

Animation

Togglestheslidingofpiecesonoroff.

AdjustAnimation

PresentstheAdjustAnimationDialog.Alsotogglesthe
slidingofpieceson.

Note:Themainlineisalsoavariation.

Tools Menu
TheToolsMenuorganizesactivitieswhichcustomizeChessCat.

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Menu Item

Action

Properties

PresentstheOnOpentabofthePropertiesDialog.This
dialogiswhereyouchangeallpreferencesandoptions
exceptfortheGameListPreferencesandPageMargin
Setup.

CustomTags

PresentstheCustomTagsDialog.Thisdialogiswhere
youaddordeletecustomtags.

GameListPreferences

PresentstheGameListPreferencesDialog.Thisdialog
iswhereyoucustomizethelookoftheSelectGame
Dialog.

Engines

PresentstheEnginesDialog.Thisdialogiswhereyou
specifythechessenginesusedforanalysis.

AnalyzePosition

Analyzesthecurrentpositionofthegameintheactive
gamewindowusingthedefaultchessengine.Causesthe
AnalysisWindowtoappear.

SwitchEngine

PresentstheSwitchEngineDialog.Thisdialogallows
youselectanewengineforanalysis.

PauseAnalysisOutput

Toggleschessengineanalysisoutputonoroff.

CopyAnalysistoClipboard

CopiesselectedtextfromtheAnalysisWindowtothe
clipboard.Alltextiscopiedwhennotextisselected.

View Menu
TheViewMenuorganizesviewingactivities.

Menu Item

Action

MainBar

TogglestheMainBaronoroff.

StatusBar

TogglestheStatusBaronoroff.

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ReplayBar

TogglestheReplayBaronoroff.

Labels

TogglestheboardLabelsonoroff.

Adornments

TogglesboardAdornmentsonoroff.

BoardOnly

TogglesBoardOnlyoptiononoroff.Thegamescoreis
notshownwhenBoardOnlyison.

LegalMoves

Togglesthecoloringofsquareswhicharelegalmoves
onoroff.

Solitaire

TogglesSolitairemodeonoroff.

PawnsOnly

Togglesthesuppressionofthedisplayofpiecesonor
off.

ErrorDetails

PresentstheErrorDetailsDialog.Thisdialogisonly
availablewhenerrorsoccurredloadingaPGNgame.

IncreaseAnalysisWindow

IncreasesthesizeoftheAnalysisWindowbyapreset
amount(movesthetopoftheAnalysisWindowup).

DecreaseAnalysisWindow

DecreasesthesizeoftheAnalysisWindowbyapreset
amount(movesthetopoftheAnalysisWindowdown).

Window Menu
TheWindowMenuorganizesactivitiesformanipulatingwindows.

Menu Item

Action

NewWindow

Opensanewwindowfortheactivegame.

Cascade

Arrangesallopengamewindowsinacascade.

TileHorizontally

Tilesallopengamewindowshorizontally.

TileVertically

Tilesallopengamewindowsveritically.

ArrangeIcons

Arrangestheiconsforallgamewindowsintheicon
state.

CloseAll

Closesallopengamewindows.

Help Menu
TheHelpMenuorganizesactivitiesforhelpandprograminformation.

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Menu Item

Action

Contents

DisplaysthecontentsoftheChessCatHelpsystem.

Index

DisplaystheindexoftheChessCatHelpsystem.

Search

SearchestheChessCatHelpsystem.

AboutChessCat

Displaysprograminformation,versionnumberand
copyright.

Understanding the Main Bar


TheMainBarisatoolbar.Atoolbarisarowofbuttonsyoucanclicktomaketheprogramdosome
action.EveryactionavailableontheMainBarisalsoavailableonamenu,buttheMainBaris
usuallymoreconvienent.TheMainBarisdockable,whichmeansyoumayrepositionittoanyside,
ordetachitandallowittofloat.

Button Action

Startsanewgame.

Presentsafileopendialog.

Savesthecurrentgame.

CopiestheactivegametotheclipboardinPGNformat.

Printstheactivegame.

PresentstheSelectGamedialog.

OpensthenextgameintheSelectGamelist.

PresentstheFindGamesdialogwhichbuildsagameselectionlist.

Deletesthecurrentmove.

Undoesthelasteditoperation.

Reappliesthelasteditoperation.

PresentstheMoveAnnotationdialog.

PresentstheGameTagsdialog.

Increasestheboardsizebyonesize.

Decreasestheboardsizebyonesize.

Reversestheorientationoftheboard.

Activatesthedefaultchessengineandsubmitsthecurrentpositionforanalysis.

Hidesallpiecesbutpawns.

Repositioning the Main Bar


TorepositiontheMainBar,clickonthebaritself(not on a button)withtheleftmousebutton,and
thendragthebartothedesirednewpositionwhileholdingdowntheleftmousebutton.Releasethe
leftmousebuttontoplacethebar.

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Whendragging,anoutlineofthebarwillappearindicatingthelocationofthebar.Todockonaside,
approachthesidetowhichyouwishtodock.Asyouapproachtheside,theshapeoftheoutlinewill
enlongate.Thisindicatesthebarisreadytodock.Releasingthemousewhiletheoutlineisenlongated
willcausethebartodock.
Tofloatthemenu,simplyreleasetheleftmousebuttonbeforetheoutlineshapeenlongates.Youmay
movethefloatingbarasyouwouldanyotherwindow.

Understanding the Replay Bar


TheReplayBarisatoolbar.Atoolbarisarowofbuttonsyoucanclicktomaketheprogramdo
someaction.EveryactionavailableontheReplayBarisalsoavailableonamenu,buttheReplayBar
isusuallymoreconvienent.TheReplayBarisdockable,whichmeansyoumayrepositionittoany
side,ordetachitandallowittofloat.

Button Action

Positionsthecurrentmovetobeforethethefirstmoveinthemainline.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothefirstmoveinthevariation.Themainlineisalsoa
variation.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothepreviousmove.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothenextmove.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothelastmoveinthevariation.Themainlineisalsoa
variation.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothelastmoveinthemainline.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothenextvariation.

Positionsthecurrentmovetothepreviousvariation.

Replaysthegamefromthecurrentmovetotheendofthevariation,orselectsmove
automationwhenChessCatisinSolitaire.Thespeedatwhichthereplayoccursmay
beadjusted.

Repositioning the Replay Bar


TorepositiontheReplayBar,clickonthebaritself(not on a button)withtheleftmousebutton,and
thendragthebartothedesirednewpositionwhileholdingdowntheleftmousebutton.Releasethe
leftmousebuttontoplacethebar.
Whendragging,anoutlineofthebarwillappearindicatingthelocationofthebar.Todockonaside,
approachthesidetowhichyouwishtodock.Asyouapproachtheside,theshapeoftheoutlinewill
enlongate.Thisindicatesthebarisreadytodock.Releasingthemousewhiletheoutlineisenlongated
willcausethebartodock.
Tofloatthemenu,simplyreleasetheleftmousebuttonbeforetheoutlineshapeenlongates.Youmay
movethefloatingbarasyouwouldanyotherwindow.

Understanding the Status Bar


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TheStatusBarprovidesyouwithinformationaboutthestatusofChessCat.TheStatusBarisnot
dockable,butyoumaychoosewhetherornottodisplayit.

Area

Description

ProgramMessageArea

Thisareadisplaysmessagetexts.Forexample,ifyou
typeinanincorrectmove,ChessCatinformsyouusing
thisarea.Whenyouselecttoolbarbuttonsormenu
items,ChessCatdisplaystextdescribingthebuttonor
itemselected.

KeyboardInputEcho

Thisareadisplayskeystrokesentered.

SolitaireIndicator

ThisareadisplaysChessCat'ssolitairestatus.Note:
WheninSolitairemode,ChessCatdoesnotacceptnew
moveinputorallowyoutodomosteditingoperations.
Toenternewmovesorcommentary,switchoffSolitaire
mode.

CapsLockIndicator

ThisareadisplaysthestatusofthekeyboardCapsLock
key.

ScrollLockIndicator

ThisareadisplaysthestatusofthekeyboardScrollLock
key.

Understanding the Board


ChessCatdisplaysthecurrentpositionasachessdiagram.

Whenapieceisselectedformovement,ablackrectangleappearsaroundthepiecetoindicateitis

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selected.ThelegalmovesfortheselectedpiecedisplayinadistinctivecolorwhenmenuitemView|
LegalMovesistoggledon.
Youmaychangethethefollowingitemsoftheboard'svisualappearance.
Visual Item

Action to Change

Size

BoardMenuorMainBar.

PieceSet

BoardMenu.

Orientation

BoardMenuorMainBar.

Colors

ColorsandFontsPropertieswhichareaccessedbytheTools|
Propertiesmenuitem.

Board Context Menu


TheBoardContextMenuorganizesactivitiesforthecurrentmove.Todisplaythemenu,right-click
ontheboardwiththemouse.

Menu Item

Action

!GoodMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"!".

?PoorMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"?".

!?SpeculativeMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"!?".

?!QuestionableMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"?!".

!!VeryGoodMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"!!".

!!VeryPoorMove

Annotatesthecurrentmovewith"??".

ToggleDiagram

Togglesthediagramflagforthecurrentmove.

AnnotateMove

DisplaystheMoveAnnotationDialogforthecurrent
move.

AdornPosition

DisplaystheAdornPositionDialogforthecurrent
position.

Understanding the Game Score


ChessCatdisplaysthegamescoreinascrollablewindow.Thepicturebelowshowstheelementsof
thegamescore.

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Element

Description

heading

MadefromPGNtags.

gamestart

Theblanklinebetweentheheadingandthestartofthemovetext.

movetext

ChessmovesinShortAlgebraicNotation.

diagramindicator

Indicatesadiagramwillbeprintedafterthismove

stamp

Free-formtextwhichappearsonthesamelineasthemove.

firstvariation

Thefirstvariationappearsonthenextline.

secondvariation

Subsequentvariationsappearonthesameline.

moveannotation

Traditionalmoveannotationsappearafterthemovetext.

currentmove

Thecurrentmoveishigh-lighted.

movecommentary

Free-formtextwhichappearsonthenextline.

result

PGNresulttag;*meansunfinished.

ChessCatautomaticallysizestheGameScorewindowtouseallavailablespacetotherightofthe
Boardwindow.WhenevertheBoardwindowisresized,ChessCatresizestheGameScorewindow.
ChessCatdisplaysthegamescoreinatraditionaltwo-columnformat.White'smainlinemovesarein
columnone,andBlack'sincolumntwo.Thesecolumnsareleft-justifiedandarespacedaccordingthe
widthofthetext.TheGameScorewindowprovidesaverticalscrollbar,butdoesnotprovidea
horizontalscrollbar.ThewidthoftheGameScorewindowmaybesuchthatBlack'smovesare
truncated.Inthatevent,youmustresizetheeithertheChessCatwindoworreducetheboardsizein
ordertoseetheBlackmoves.
Commentaryisdisplayedascontigioustextwhichappearonthelineaftertheassociatedmove.
CommentaryisautomaticallyrejustifiedwhenevertheGameScorewindowisresized,andsodoes
notrequirehoritzonalscrolling.Thereisalimit,however,asthewindowismadesmaller,atwhich

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commentaryisalsotruncated.

Using the Mouse


VirtuallyeveryelementoftheGameScoremaybeclickedwiththemousetoeffectsomeaction.
Element

Left-Click

Right-Click

heading

Positionsgameto
start.

DisplaystheGameTagsdialog

gamestart

Positionsgameto
start.

DisplaystheGameTagsdialog

movetext

Positionsgameto
selectedmove.

DisplaystheMoveAnnotationdialogwiththe
focusontheCommentarytextbox.

movecommentary

Positionsgameto
selectedmove.

DisplaystheMoveAnnotationdialogwiththe
focusontheCommentarytextbox.

variationleft
parenthesis

(noaction)

DisplaystheCommentaryVariationStartdialog.

variationright
parenthesis

(noaction)

DisplaystheCommentaryVariationEnddialog.

stamp

(noaction)

DisplaystheMoveAnnotationdialogwiththe
focusontheStamptextbox.

diagramindicator

(noaction)

DisplaystheMoveAnnotationdialogwiththe
focusontheDiagramcheckbox.

result

(noaction)

DisplaystheGameTagsdialog.

Using the Keyboard


ThekeyboardmaybeusedtoscrolltheGameScorewindow:
Key

Action

uparrow

Scrollsuponeline.

downarrow

Scrollsdownoneline.

Ctrl+Home

Scrollstothestartofthegame.

Ctrl+End

Scrollstotheendofthegame

PageUp

Scrollsuponepage.

PageDown

Scrollsdownonepage.

Thekeyboardmaybeusedtonaviagatewithinthegamescore.SeealsoHowtoReplayaGame.

Error Details Glyph


WhenanerrorisfoundduringthereadingofaPGNfile,ChessCatindicatesthepointinthegame
scorewheretheerrorwasfoundbydisplayinganErrors Detail Glyphonthegamescore.Whenyou
left-clickonanError Details Glyph,ChessCatdisplaystheErrorDetailsDialogfortheerror.

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Understanding the Analysis Window


ChessCatdisplayschessengineanalysisinascrollablewindowwhichappearsontheMainScreen
whenanalysisisstarted.BeforeyoucananalysisachesspositionyoumusthaveaWinboard
compatiblechessengineonyourcomputerandyoumustaddittoChessCatusingtheEnginesDialog.
SeeWinBoardEnginesforinformationonhowtogetaWinBoardengine.SeeHowtoUseaChess
EnginetoAnalyzefordetailedinstructionsonhowtoinstalltheengine.
Thepicturebelowshowstheelementsoftheanalysiswindow.

Element

Description

Copy
Button

Copiesselectedtextfromtheanalysiswindowtotheclipboard.Thekeyboard
shortcutCtrl-Cwillnotcopytheselectedtext.UseTools|Copy Analysis to
Clipboardtoeffectthecopyactionusingthekeyboard.

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Resize
Handle

ThegapbetweenthebottomoftheGameScorewindowandthetopofthe
analysiswindowmaybedraggedwiththemousetoresizetheheightofthe
analysiswindow.Thecursorchangesshapewhenmovedoverthisareatoindicate
draggingispossible.Todrag,clickandholdtheleftmousebuttonthenmovethe
mouseverically.ChessCatresizestheAnalysiswindowwhenthebuttonis
released.ChessCatautomaticallyresizesthewidthoftheanalysiswindowwhen
sufficientroomexistsbelowtheBoardwindow.

TitleBar

Displaysthenameofthechessengine.Ply,time,andnodeinformationisalso
displayedontheTitleBarwhentheFormat Engine Outputoptionisselected.The
valuesfromthemostrecentenginethinkingoutputareused.Whenyouright-click
onthetitlebar,ChessCatdisplaystheSwitchEngineDialog.

Variation

ChessCatdisplaysanalyzedvariationsintheformoutputbytheengine.ChessCat
doesnotformatthemoves.

Evaluation ChessCatformatstheevaluationofthevariationgivenbytheanalysisenginein
inPawns pawns.Aplussign('+')indicatestheevaluationfavorswhite,andaminussign('')indicatestheevaluationfavorsblack.Youmaysuppressthisformattingusing
theEnginesDialog.
Analysis
Window

TheanalysiswindowiswhereChessCatdisplayschessengineanalysis.The
windowhasatitlebar,ahorizontalscrollbar,averticalscrollbar,andatextbox.
Youmaynottypeintothetextbox,butyoumayusethemousetoselecttextand
copyittotheclipboard.Youmayright-clickonthetextboxtodisplaythe
standardcontextmenuforaWindowstextbox.

Pause
Button

Toggleschessengineoutputonoroff.Whenpaused,thebuttonwillappear
greyed-outandtheanalysiswindowtextisnotupdated.Whennotpaused,
ChessCatautomaticallyupdatesanalysiswindowtextasitisreceivedfromthe
chessengine.Ifyouwishtocutaselectionofanalysistexttotheclipboard,it's
easierifyoupausetheoutputfirst.(Note:thescreenshotshowsthechessengine
paused.)

Discussion
TheAnalysiswindowcannotreceivethefocususingthekeyboard.Youmustusethemouseorthe
ToolsorViewmenustoeffectallactionsintheAnalysiswindow.AllAnalysiswindowactionsare
availableoneithertheToolsorViewmenuswiththeexceptionofselectinganalysistexttobecopied
totheclipboard.
WhenyouusetheTools|Copy Analysis to Clipboardmenuitemandnotexthasbeenselected,all
textintheanalysiswindowiscopiedtotheclipboard.Thisgetsaroundbeingunabletoselecttext
usingthemouse.YoucantheneditthetextforthedesiredselectionbycopyingtoNotepadorany
othertexteditor.
ChessCatautomaticallysizestheAnalysiswindowtouseallavailablespacebelowtheGameScore
andBoardwindows.However,ChessCatonlyusesthespacebelowtheBoardwindowwhenthetop
oftheAnalysiswindowisbelowthebottomoftheBoardwindow.
ThepicturebelowshowstheresultofincreasingtheroombelowtheBoardwindow,andthen
loweringthetopofAnalysiswindowsothattheAnalysiswindowbelowthebottomoftheBoard
window.ChessCatremembersthelocationofthetopoftheAnalysiswindowforeachboardsize.

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Understanding the Labels


Labelsarelettersandnumberswhichactascoordinatestoidentifysquaresontheboard.Youmay
turntheLabelsoff.
WhenmenuitemView|Labelsistoggledon,ChessCatdisplaysalgebraiclabelsfortheboardalong
theleftandbottomsides.Filesareindicatedwiththelettersathroughh,andrankswiththedigits1
through8.

Understanding the Move Indicator


ChessCatdenotesthesidewhoseturnitistomovebyasmallsquareboxonthebottomleftsideof
theboard.
ThecoloroftheboxiswhitewhenitistheWhite'sturntomove,andblackwhenitisBlack'sturn.

Understanding Solitaire
WhenyoureplayagameinSolitaire,ChessCatdoesnotdisplaythemovetextintheGameScore
windowuntilthemoveismade.YoucannotenternewmovesorcommentarywhenChessCatisin
Solitaire.
ToturnSolitaireonoroff,selectView|Solitaire.Thisisatogglemenuitem.IfSolitaireisoff,itis
turnedon;ifSolitaireison,itisturnedoff.

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WhenreplayingagameinSolitaire,youmayattempttoguessthenextmoveonthescoresheet.
ChessCatwilltellyouwhetherornotyourguesswascorrect.Todothis,simplymakethemoveusing
eitherthemouseorthekeyboard.Ifyouenterthecorrectmoveusingthemouse,thepiecewillstick.
Ifyouenterthecorrectmoveusingthekeyboard,thepiecewillmove.Otherwise,thepiecewill
returntowhereitstartedornotmoveatall.
Youmayautomateeithersideofthegame.Ifyouwishtoplaythewhitepieces,youcanhave
ChessCatautomaticallyplaytheblackmoves.Orifyouwishtoplaytheblackpieces,youcanhave
ChessCatautomaticallyplaythewhitemoves.ChessCatwillautomatethesidewhosepiecesareat
thetopoftheboard.Forexample,ifyouwishtoplaythemovesfortheblackpiecesandhave
ChessCatautomatethewhitepieces,reversetheboardsothattheblackpiecesareonthebottom.
YoumayturnmoveautomationonoroffatanytimewhenChessCatisinSolitaire.Also,youmayset
apreferencetobeusedeachtimeChessCatopensagameinSolitaire.Toturnthemoveautomation
featureonoroffwhileChessCatisinSolitaire:
1. SelectReplay|Auto-Play,or
2. pressthe buttonontheReplayBar.
Tosetyourpreferenceforsolitaireautomation:
1. SelectTools|Properties.
2. SelectOnOpen.
3. ScrolltoelementAutomateSolitaireReplayandsettheitemaschecked.
Note:WhenopeningagameasWhitewithbothSolitaireandAutomateSolitaireReplayturnedon,
ChessCatwillmakethefirstmovesforbothWhiteandBlack.

Training
YoucanuseChessCattohelpyourselfmemorizeyouropenings.Simplyenteryouropeningsas
games,andthenreplaytheminSolitairemode.
Formorerealism,useAutomate Solitaire Replay.Puteachvariationinit'sowngame,andthenputall
thegamesinonedirectory.UsetheFindGamesfeaturetocreateagamelistbyspecifyingonlythat
directoryasthesearchcriteria.SaveyourrepetoireasaQuery.UsetheShufflebuttonontheSelect
Gamedialogtorandomizetheorderofthegames.Thistechniquesimulatesplayingwithatraining
partnerwhoplaysyourrepetoire.

Understanding Adornments
ChessCatcandisplayspecialgraphicscalledadornmentswhichyoucanusetomarkselectedfeatures
ofachessposition.

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TheadornmentsavailablearetheCross,theBullet,andtheArrow.Thescreenshotaboveshowsall
threeavailableadornments.
EachsquaremaybemarkedwitheitheraCrossoraBulletbutnotboth.Youmayspecifyasmany
arrowsasyoudesirelimitedonlybygoodtasteandtheamountofmemoryavailable.Adornmentsfor
onepositiondonotcarryforwardtosubsequentpositions.Adornmentsdonotdisplayindiagrams.
ThecolorfortheCrossandBulletmaybenotbechanged,butyoumayselectthecolorofthearrow
usingtheColor/FonttabonthePropertiesDialog.
Youcancontrolwhetherofnotadornmentsforapositionaredisplayedwhenthegameisreplayed
(seeViewMenu.)Toenableorsuppressadornmentseachtimeagameisopened,usetheOnOpen
PropertiespageonthePropertiesDialog(seeToolsMenu.)
UsetheAdornPositionDialogtoadornaposition.

Understanding Short Algebraic Notation


ShortAlgebraicNotation(SAN)isawidelyacceptedstandardforrecordingchessmoves.
InSAN,eachsquareofthechessboardisidentfiedbytwocharacters:thefirstofwhichidentifiesthe
fileintersectingthesquare,andthesecondwhichidentifiestherank.Filesaredenotedasthelettersa
throughh,alwaysinlowercase.Ranksaredenotedasthedigits1through8.Thesquarea1isthe
squarewhereWhite'squeen'srookisplaceduponinitialsetup.
InSAN,eachpieceindentifiedbyasinglecapitializedletter.InEnglish,thepiecesareidentifiedas
follows:K=king,Q=queen,R=rook,B=bishop,N=knight,andP=pawn.Theidentifierforthepawnis
usuallyomitted.(Note:ChessCatreadsandwritesgamesusingEnglishpiecenotationonly,whichis
thePGNstandard,buthastheabilitytoacceptanddisplaymovesusingthepiecenotationofany
language.)
ASANmoveisconstructedbylistingtheletterofthemovingpiece,exceptforpawns,followedby
thedestinationsquare.
Whenthemoveisacapture,alowercase"x"isplacedbetweenthepieceletterandthedestination
square.Thecapturedpieceisnotspecified.Inthecaseofapawncapture,thefileofthepawnmaking

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thecaptureislistedfollowedbythe"x"followedbythedestinationsquare.Enpassantdoesnothave
anyspecialnotation,thedestinationsquareisenoughtoindicatetheaction.
Kingsidecastlingisindicatedbythenotation"O-O",usinguppercaseletterOandnotthedigitzero.
Queensidecastlingisindicatedbythenotation"O-O-O".(Note:ChessCatacceptszeroinplaceofthe
uppercaseO.)
Pawnpromotionisindicatedbyfollowingthepawnmovedestinationsquareimmediatelywith"="
followedbytheletterofthepieceforpromotion.
Therearecaseswheretwoormorepiecesofthesametypemaymovetothesamedestinationsquare.
Whenthishappensthemovemustbedisambiguated.Thefollowingrulesareappliedinorderuntil
themoveisdisambiguated.Ifanyrulesucceedsindisambiguatingthemove,theremaingrulesare
notapplied.
Firstly,ifthemovescanbedistinguishedbymeansoftheoriginatingfilealone,theoriginatingfileof
thepiecebeingmovedisinsertedimmediatelyfollowingtheletterdenotingthepiece.
Secondly,ifthemovescanbedistinguishedbymeansoftheoriginatingrankalone,theoriginating
rankofthepiecebeingmovedisinsertedimmediatelyfollowingtheletterdenotingthepiece.
Thirdly,sincethemovecannotbedistinguishedbymeansoftheoriginatingfileorrankalone,the
twocharactercodeoftheoriginatingsquareisinsertedimmediatedfollowingtheletterdenotingthe
piece.
CheckisindicatedbyfollowingtheSANmovewitha"+".Checkmateisindicatedbyfollowingthe
SANmovewitha"#".(Note:ChessCatdoesnotrequirecheckorcheckmatetobeidentified;
ChessCatusestherulesofchesstoidentifychecksandcheckmate.)

Understanding the Keyboard Shortcuts


Akeyboardshortcutisakeyorcombinationofkeyswhichcauseanaction.Allthekeyboardshortcut
actionsarealsoavailableonmenus.
Note:Toeffectashortcut,allthespecifiedkeysmustbedepressedatthesametime.Simplykeepeachkeydepressed
untilallkeyshavebeenpressed.Theplussign(+)characterisusedtoindicatekeycombinationsandshouldnotbe
pressed.

Action

Keys

Adornpositionwithsymbols.

Ctrl+R

Analyzeposition.

Ctrl+A

Bringthenextwindowpanetothetop.

F6

Bringthepreviouswindowpanetothetop.

Shift+F6

CopyanalysisoutputtoClipboard.

Ctrl+K

Copythecurrentpositiontotheclipboardasabitmap.

Ctrl+B

Copythecurrentpositiontotheclipboardasadiagram.

Ctrl+I

CopythecurrentpositiontotheclipboardinFENnotation.

Ctrl+J

CopythegamescoretotheClipboardastext.

Ctrl+E

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CopythegamescoretotheClipboardinPGN,orcopythe
currentselectiontotheClipboard.

Ctrl+C

CopythegamescoretotheClipboardinPGN.

Ctrl+Insert

Createanewgame.

Ctrl+N

CuttheselectionandputitontheClipboard.

Ctrl+X

Decreasetheheightoftheanalysiswindow.

Alt+Shift+D

Decreasethesizeoftheboard.

Ctrl+Shift+D

Editannotationforthecurrentmove

Ctrl+M

Editplayernames,ratings,etc.

Ctrl+G

FindgameswithmatchingPGNtags.

Ctrl+F

Gototheendofthegame

Ctrl+End

Gotothefirstmoveofthecurrentlineofplay.

Ctrl+LeftArrow

Gotothelastmoveofthecurrentlineofplay.

Ctrl+RightArrow

Gotothenextvariation

Shift+DownArrow

Gotothepriorvariation

Ctrl+UpArrow

Gotothestartofthegame

Ctrl+Home

Increasetheheightoftheanalysiswindow.

Alt+Shift+I

Increasethesizeoftheboard.

Ctrl+Shift+I

InsertClipboardcontents.

Shift+Insert

Openasavedquery.

Ctrl+Q

Openanexistinggame.

Ctrl+O

Opengamefromtheselectionlist.

Ctrl+L

Opennextgameintheselectionlist.

Ctrl+T

PastePGNGameorFENPosition.

Ctrl+V

Pauseanalysisoutput.

Ctrl+U

Printtheactivegame.

Ctrl+P

Redothepreviouslyundoneaction.

Ctrl+Y

Replaygameassolitaire.

Alt+Shift+S

Replaythenextmove.

RightArrow

Replaythepreviousmove.

LeftArrow

Reversetheboardorientation.

Ctrl+Shift+R

Savetheactivegame.

Ctrl+S

Selectboardsize1.

Ctrl+Shift+1

Selectboardsize2.

Ctrl+Shift+2

Selectboardsize3.

Ctrl+Shift+3

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Selectboardsize4.

Ctr+Shift+4

Selectboardsize5.

Ctrl+Shift+5

Selectboardsize6.

Ctrl+Shift+6

SwitchEngine.

Ctrl+W

Toggleadornmentsonoroff.

Alt+Shift+O

Toggleautomaticgamereplayonoroff.

Alt+Shift+A

Togglethediagramforthecurrentmoveonoroff.

Ctrl+D

Toggleshowboardonlyonoroff.

Alt+Shift+B

Undothelastaction.

Ctrl+Z(also Shift + Delete


and Alt + Back)

UseHastingschesspieces.

Ctrl+Shift+H

UseLinareschesspieces.

Ctrl+Shift+L

UseZurichchesspieces.

Ctrl+Shift+Z

Game Tags Dialog


Menu

Edit|GameTags

Keyboard

Ctrl+G

Mouse

Right-clickingamescorewindowonheading.

Toentergametags,ChessCatdisplaystheGameTagsdialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Event

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Event".

Site

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Site".

Date

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Date".

Round

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Round".

Board

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Board".

Section

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Section".

Stage

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Stage".

White

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"White".

Title

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"WhiteTitle".

Rating

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"WhiteRating".

RatingSource

ComboBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"WhiteRatingSource".

Black

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"Black".

Title(2)

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"BlackTitle".

Rating(2)

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"BlackRating".

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RatingSource(2)

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag
"BlackRatingSource".

ECO

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"ECO".

...

PushButton

PresentstheECOCodesdialog.

Opening

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"
Opening".

Annotator

TextBox

SpecifiesthevalueforPGNtag"
Annotator".

Unfinished

RadioButton

SetsPGNtag"Result"tovalue"*".

Whitewon

RadioButton

SetsPGNtag"Result"tovalue"1-0".

Blackwon

RadioButton

SetsPGNtag"Result"tovalue"0-1".

Drawn

RadioButton

SetsPGNtag"Result"tovalue"1/2-1/2".

CustomTags

ListBox

DisplayscustomPGNtagsandvaluesfor
thisgame.

TagValue

TextBox

Specifiesthevalueoftheselectedcustom
PGNtag.

Set

PushButton

AppliestagvaluetoselectedcustomPGN
tag.

AddTag

PushButton

PresentstheCutomTagsdialog.

RemoveTag

PushButton

RemovesselectedcustomPGNtagfrom
thisgame.

Discussion
ToenteraRatingSourcenotshownintheComboBoxlistselection,justtypeitin.ChessCatwill
accepttheratingsource.
ChessCatpopulatestheCustomTagslistboxusingcustomtagspreviouslyentered.PresstheAdd
TagbuttontoaccesstheCustomTagsDialog.
Tochangeacustomtagvalue,selectthedesiredcustomtagbyclickingit.Theselectedtag'svalue
willappearintheTagValuetextbox.Makeyourdesiredchanges,andthenpresstheSetbuttonto
makeyourchangespermanent.IfyoudonotpresstheSetbutton,ChessCatwillignoreyourchanges.

Move Annotation Dialog


Menu

Edit|MoveAnnotation

Keyboard

Ctrl+M

Mouse

Right-clickingamescorewindowondesiredmoved.
Right-clickinboardwindow.

Toenterannotationsandcommentaryforamove,ChessCatdisplaystheMoveAnnotationdialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Goodmove(!)

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"!".

Verygoodmove(!!)

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"!!".

Poormove{?}

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"?".

Verypoormove(??)

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"??".

Speculativemove(!?)

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"!?".

Questionablemove(?!)

RadioButton

Annotatesthemovewith"?!".

(none)

RadioButton

Removesexistingannotation.

(extended-seebelow)

RadioButton

Indicatesanannotationotherthanthe
standardsix.

Untitled

DropDownBox

Selectsanannotationfromthesetof
NumericAnnotationGlyphs(NAG).

Commentary

TextBox

Specifiescommentaryforthemove;
appearsafterthemovetext.

Stamp

TextBox

Stampsthemove;appearsonthesame
lineasthemovetext.

Diagram

CheckBox

Togglesthediagramindicatorforthe
move.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandupdatesthegame
score.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutupdatingthe
gamescore.

Discussion

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ChessCatacceptsannotationsasNumericAnnotationGlyph(NAG)codes.Youcanenterannotations
foreachmove.Usetheradiobuttonsorthedrop-downboxtoenterNAGannotations.Theradio
buttonsprovidequickaccesstothemostcommonannotations.
ChessCatacceptscommentaryasfree-formtext.Youcanentercommentaryatthebeginningofthe
game,beforeandaftereachvariation,andaftereachmove.UsetheCommentarytextboxtoenter
free-formcomments.UsethekeyboardshortcutCtrl+Vtopasteintothebox,Ctrl+Ctocopythe
selectioninthebox,andCtrl+Xtocuttheselectioninthebox.
ChessCatacceptssmallnoteforeachmovewhichiscalledaStamp.TheStampdisplaysonthesame
lineasthemovetext.YoumayusetheStampforanythingyoudesire.Exampleusesaretorecordthe
timestampofamoveforcorrespondencechess,ortheelapsedtimeforOTBchess.Forexample,use
thestamptorecordthedateandtimeyoureceivedamoveonyouropponent'smoves,andthedate
andtimeyousentamoveonyourmoves.
ChecktheDiagramcheckboxtocauseadiagramofthepositiontoappearinprintedoutputafterthe
correspondingmovetext.

Using the Mouse to Enter Annotations and Commentary


Right-clickinthegamescorewindowonthemovetextofthemoveyouwishtoentercommentary.
Commentaryisalwaysdisplayedafterthemovetext.Todisplaycommentarybeforeamove,enterthe
commentaryonthepreviousmove.Toentercommentarybeforethefirstmove,right-clickonthe
blanklinepreceedingthefirstmove.Youmayclickontheleftandrightparenthesestoenter
commentaryforvariations.

Using the Keyboard to Enter Annotations and Commentary


SelectEdit|MoveAnnotation.ChessCatwilldisplaythecommentarydialogforthecurrentmove.

Commentary Dialog
Menu

(none)

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

Right-clickingamescorewindowondesiredelement.

Toentercommentaryforthestartofthegameorbeforeandaftervariations,ChessCatdisplaysthe
Commentarydialog.

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Note:Forcommentarybeforeorafteravariation,thetitlechangestoCommentaryVariationStartor
CommentaryVariationEnd,whicheverisappropriate.
ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitled)

TextBox

Specifiescommentarytobedisplayed
betweenthescoresheetheadingandthe
firstmove.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandsavesthe
commentary.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutsavingthe
commentary.

Discussion
Toentercommentarybeforethefirstmove,right-clickontheblanklinepreceedingthefirstmove.
Youmayclickontheleftandrightparenthesestoentercommentaryforvariations.
ChessCatdoesnotallowforcommentaryattheendofthegamebecauseChessCatstoresgamesin
PGNformatandthePGNstandarddoesnotallowforcommentaryaftertheendofagame.

Find Games Dialog


Menu

File|FindGames

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

Left-clickFind gamesbuttononMainBar.

TofindPGNgamesonyourcomputer,ChessCatdisplaystheFindGamesdialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Player1

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthe
correspondingPGNtag,basedonthe
Colorscriteria,accordingtotherules
specifiedintheRulessection.Omitto
allowallplayers.

Player2

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthe
correspondingPGNtag,basedonthe
Colorscriteria,accordingtotherules
specifiedintheRulessection.Mayonly
beenteredwhenPlayer1hasbeen
entered.

Player1AsWhite

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherePlayer1hadthewhitepieces.

Player1AsBlack

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherePlayer1hadtheblackpieces.

Player1AsAny

RadioButton

AllowsgameswherePlayer1hadeither
colorpieces.

Player1Won

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherePlayer1won.

Player1Lost

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherePlayer1lost.

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GameDrawn

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontodrawngames.

AnyResult

RadioButton

Allowsgameswithanyresult.

Unfinished

RadioButton

Limitsgameselectiontounfinished
games.

ECO

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthe
beginningofthevaluespecifiedforPGN
tag"ECO"(the Rules criteria do not
apply to ECO).OmittoallowallECO
codes.

...

PushButton

DisplaystheECOCodesandDescriptions
dialog.Usethisdialogtoselectavalue
fortheECOtextbox.

Event

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthePGN
tag"Event"accordingtotherules
specifiedintheRulessection.Omitto
allowallevents.

Site

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthePGN
tag"Site"accordingtotherulesspecified
intheRulessection.Omittoallowall
events.

Date

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthe
beginningofthevaluespecifiedforPGN
tag"Date"(the Rules criteria do not apply
to Date).Omittoallowalldates.

Round

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
wherethevalueenteredmatchesthe
beginningofthevaluespecifiedforPGN
tag"Round"(the Rules criteria do not
apply to Date).Omittoallowallrounds.

PlyCount

TextBox

Limitsgameselectiontothosegames
whichcontainthePGNtag"PlyCount"
andtheplycountvalueofthetagsatisfies
thevalueenteredwithrespecttothe
LesserThanorGreaterThanradiobutton
selected.Omittoallowgameswithoutthe
PlyCounttagortoallowgameswithany
plycountvalue.

LesserThan

RadioButton

Specifiesgameplycountmustbelessthan
enteredPlyCount.

GreaterThan

RadioButton

Specifiesgameplycountmustbegreater
thanenteredPlyCount.

MatchCase

CheckBox

Specifieswhetherornottextmatchingis
tobecasesensitive.

LookinSubfolders

CheckBox

Sepecifieswhetherornotthesearchfor
gamesistoincludesubfolders.

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StartsText

RadioButton

Specifiesthatthetextmatchingrulefor
thePlayer1,Player2,Event,andSite
selectioncriteriaisthattheenteredvalues
matchthebeginningofthePGNtag
values.

OccursinText

RadioButton

Specifiesthatthetextmatchingrulefor
thePlayer1,Player2,Event,andSite
selectioncriteriaisthattheenteredvalues
occurwithinthePGNtagvalues.

MatchesText

RadionButton

Specifiesthatthetextmatchingrulefor
thePlayer1,Player2,Event,andSite
selectioncriteriaisthattheenteredvalues
matchethePGNtagvalues.

StartFolder

TextBox

Specifiesthefolderwheresearchingisto
begin.

...

PushButon

Browsesthefilesystemofthecomputer.

FileMask

TextBox

Limitsfileselectiontothosefileswhose
namesmatchthemask.Thefileextension
".pgn"isalwaysassumedandmustnotbe
entered.Usethe"?"charactertospecifya
wild-cardcharacter.Usethe"*"characer
tospecifyauniversalmatch.Forexample,
"sicil*"wouldfindallPGNfiles
beginningwith"sicil"suchas"siciliandragon.pgn"and"sicilian-kan.pgn".Usea
singleasterisk("*")toallowallfiles.

Ok

PushButton

Activatesthesearch.

Close

PushButton

Dismissesthedialog;stopssearchaction
whenbuttontextis"Cancel".

Clear

PushBottom

ClearstheformexceptforRules,Start
FolderandFileMask.

Discussion
FillinyourdesiredselectioncriteriaandpresstheOkbutton.ChessCatwillsearchyourcomputerfor
PGNgamesmatchingyourcriteria.
Whileasearchisunderway,ChessCatdisablestheOkbutton,andchangestheClosebuttontextto
"Cancel".YoucanstopasearchatanytimebypressingtheCancelbutton.PresstheClosebuttonto
dismissthedialog.Whenthesearchcompletes,ChessCatpresentstheSelectGameDialogifmultiple
gameswerefound.
Ifyouwishtofindgamesforaspecificplayer,enterthenameinPlayer1.Ifyouwishtofinda
specificgamebetweentwoplayers,enterthenameofoneplayerinPlayer1andthenameoftheother
inPlayer2.

Select Game Dialog


Menu

File|OpenSelectionList

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Note:TheselectionlistmustfirstbecreatedbyopeningaPGNlibrary,a
ChessCatQuery,orbytheFindGamesDialog.
Keyboard

Ctrl+L

Mouse

Left-clickOpen game from selection listbuttononMainBar.

ToselectagamefromaPGNlibrary,aFindGamesoperation,oraQuery,ChessCatdisplaysthe
SelectGamedialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitled)

ListBox

Displaysavailablegames.

NumberofGames

DisplayArea

Displaysthenumberofgamesinthelist.

NumberSelected

DisplayArea

Displaysthenumberofgamescurrently
selected.

PGNFilesFound

DisplayArea

Displaysthenumberoffileswith
extension".pgn"examinedduringaFind
Gamesoperation.

GamesSearched

DisplayArea

Displaysthenumberofgamesexamined
duringaFindGamesoperation.

ElapsedTime

DisplayArea

Displaystheelapsedtimeinsecondsfora
FindGamesoperation.

OpenAsWhite

RadioButton

Placesthewhitepiecesatthebottom
whenthegameopens.

OpenAsWinner

RadioButton

Placesthewinner'spiecesatthebottom
whenthegameopens.

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OpenAsBlack

RadioButton

Placestheblackpiecesatthebottom
whenthegameopens.

OpenAsPlayerToMove

RadioButton

Placesthepiecesoftheplayertomoveat
thebottomwhenthegameopens.

OpenAsSolitaire

CheckBox

Causesthegametoopeninsolitaire
mode.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandopenstheselected
games.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutopeningany
games.

Cutomize

PushButton

PresentstheGameListPreferences
dialog.

SaveAs

PushButton

SavesthelistofgamesasaQuery.

Shuffle

PushButton

Shufflestheorderofthegamesinthelist

Discussion
Toselectagameusingthemouse,simplyclickonthedesiredgame.ChessCatwillhighlightyour
selection.ClicktheOkbutton.
Youmayclickonacolumnheadingtosortthegamelistbythatcolumn.Thesorttogglesfrom
ascendingtodecendingorder.Whenthecursorisoveracolumnheading,itchangestoindicatethe
sortsequence.
Youmaytemporarilyresizeanycolumnbypositioningthecursoroverthecolumndivider.Left-click
anddragtoresizethecolumn.YoumaypermanentlyresizeanycolumnbypressingtheCustomize
button,andmakingyourchangesusingtheGameListPreferencesdialog.
YoumayselectmorethanonegamebyholdingdowntheCtrlkeyasyouclick.Usethescrollbarto
seeadditionalgamesinthelist.Youmayalsousetheupanddownarrowkeystoscrollthelist.Press
thespacebartoselectordeselectthefirstgameinthelistbox.
Note:TagvaluesarenotrefresheduntiltheFindGamesDialogisrerun.Ifyouchangeatagvaluefor
agameintheselectionlist,thechangewillnotbeshownuntiltheFindGamesDialogisrerun.

ECO Codes and Descriptions


Menu

(none)

Keyboard

PressthepushbuttontotheimmediaterightoftheECOtextboxontheFind
GamesDialog.

Mouse

PressthepushbuttontotheimmediaterightoftheECOtextboxontheFind
GamesDialog.

TolistECOcodesandtheirdescriptions,ChessCatdisplaystheECOCodesandDescriptionsdialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitled)

ListBox

ListsECOcodesandtheirdescriptions.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandreturnstheselected
ECOcodewhenacodehasbeenselected.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutreturningan
ECOcode.

Discussion
TochooseanECOcodefortheFindGamesdialog,selectthedesiredECOcodeandthenpressthe
Okbutton.
ChessCatpopulatesthelistboxfromthefile"eco.txt".Youmayeditthisfilewithanytexteditor.
EnteroneECOcodeanditsdescriptionperline.EntertheECOcodeatthebeginningoftheline
followedbyitsdescription.UseasingletabcharactertoseparatetheECOcodeanditsdesription.
Anylinebeginningwithanasterisk(*)isignored.

Setup Position Dialog


Menu

Edit|SetupPosition

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Tosetupaposition,ChessCatdisplaystheSetupPositiondialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Whitetomove

RadioButton

SpecifiesWhiteastheplayertomove.

Blacktomove

RadioButton

SpecifiesBlackastheplayertomove.

WhiteO-O

CheckBox

SpecifiesWhitemaycastlekingside.

WhiteO-O-O

CheckBox

SpecifiesWhitemaycastlequeenside.

BlackO-O

CheckBox

SpecifiesBlackmaycastlekingside.

BlackO-O-O

CheckBox

SpecifiesBlackmaycastlequeenside.

Enpassantat

TextBox

Specifiesthecapturesquareforan
availableenpassantcapture.Forexample,
ifwhitehasapawnate5andblackjust
movedapawntod5,enterd6asthe
enpassantcapturesquare

Fullmovenumber

TextBox

Specifiesthefullmovenumberatwhich
movenumberingistobegin.

Half-moveclock

TextBox

Specifiesthenumberofhalf-movessince
thelastpawnmoveorcapture.Thisvalue
isusedwhencreatingFENstringsand
maybeimportantforsomechessengines.
ChessCatdoesnotcarewhatvalueis
enteredaslongasitnotlessthanzero

KeyboardInterface

TextBox

Specifiesthesquareandpiecenamesto
addorremove(note: the kings may not be
deleted).

Set

PushButton

AppliesthevalueinKeyboard Interface.

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Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogsettingtheposition.

Cancel

PushButton

Closesthedialogwithoutsettingthe
position.

Clear

PushButton

Removesallpiecesfromtheboard
(except the kings).

Reset

PushButton

Restorestheboardtotheposition
displayedwhenthedialogfirstopened.

Standard

PushButton

Setstheboardtothestandardstarting
position

(untitled)

PieceSet

Selectspiecetobeplaced

Discussion
Youcanonlysetupapositionforanewgame,andonlybeforeanymovesaremade.

Using the Mouse to Setup a Position


Tosetupapositionusingthemouse,youmay:

Movethepiecesontheboardtoanysquarebyleft-clickingthepieceanddraggingit.Thepiece
issetwhenthemousebuttonisreleased.
Discardanypiecebydraggingitofftheboard(except for kings).
Addadditionalpiecesbyselectingapiecefromthepiecesetlocatedbelowtheboardandthen
settingthepieceontheboardbyleft-clickingthedesiredsquare.Left-clickingwhenthecursor
isakingcausesthecorrespondingkingtobemovedtotheselectedsquare.

Whenapieceisselectedfromthepieceset,thecursorchangestorepresentthatpieceandremainsset
untilanotherpieceisselectedorthearrow-cursorinthepiecesetisselected.Whenthecursorissetto
apiece,clickingonalikepieceremovesthepiece(except for kings).

Using the Keyboard to Setup a Postion


Tosetupapositionusingthekeyboard,placethefocusontheKeyboard Interfacetextbox.Typein
commandsinoneoftheformatshownbelow,andthenpresstheSetbuttontoeffectthecommand.
Command Format to Set a Piece:"square=piece"
Operand Description
square

Algebraicnameofthesquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.

piece

SingleletternotationforthepieceasspecifiedintheNotationandDiagrams
Properties.Theblackpiecesaredesignatedbyuppercase,andthewhitepiecesas
lowercase.Omitthepiecedesignationtoclearasquare.(Note: A square containing
a king may not be cleared.)

Example

Action

a3=N

Setsablackknightatthesquarea3.

a3=n

Setsawhiteknightatthesquarea3.

a3=

Clearsthea3square.

Command Format to Move a Piece:"from-to"

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Operand Description
from

Algebraicnameoftheoriginsquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.

to

Algebraicnameofthedestinationsquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.(Note: A square
containing a king may not be a destination square.)

Example Action
e2-e4

Movethepiece,ifany,onsquaree2tosquaree4.Ifthereisnopieceonsquaree2,
thesquaree4iscleared.

Custom Tags Dialog


Menu

Tools|CustomTags

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Tospecifycustomtags,ChessCatdisplaystheCustomTagsdialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitiled)

ListBox

ListsavailablecustomPGNtags.

Enternewtagshere

TextBox

SpecifiesthenameofanewcustomPGN
tag.

Add

PushButton

Addsthecustomtag.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandsavesallchanges.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutsaving
changes.

Delete

PushButton

Removesthecustomtagcurrently
selectedinthelistbox.

Discussion
ChessCatnormallyusesthefollowingPGNtags:

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Black

BlackRating

BlackRatingSystem

BlackTitle

Board

Date

ECO

Event

FEN

Opening

PlyCount

Result

Round

Section

Setup

Stage

White

WhiteRating

WhiteRatingSystem

WhiteTitle

TheCustomTagsdialogmaintainsalistofcustomtagswhichareautomaticallyincludedwiththe
gametagslistedabovewhenenteringagame.YoumayspecifyasmanyadditionalPGNtagsasyou
desireascustomPGNtags.
Note:ChessCatdisplaysallPGNtagsfoundinagameregardlessofwhetherornotthosetagsappear
inthecustomtagslist.

Promote Pawn Dialog


Menu

(none)

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Topromoteapawn,ChessCatdisplaysthePromotePawndialog:

Note:ThedialogshowsblackpieceswhenBlackispromoting.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(image of queen)

ClickableImage

SpecifiesaQueenasthepromotionpiece.

(image of knight)

ClickableImage

SpecifiesaKnightasthepromotionpiece.

(image of rook)

ClickableImage

SpecifiesaRookasthepromotionpiece.

(image of bishop)

ClickableImage

SpecifiesaBishopasthepromotion
piece.

Queen

RadioButton

SpecifiesaQueenasthepromotionpiece.

Knight

RadioButton

SpecifiesaKnightasthepromotionpiece.

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Rook

RadioButton

SpecifiesaRookasthepromotionpiece.

Bishop

RadioButton

SpecifiesaBishopasthepromotion
piece.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandpromotesthepawn
totheselectedpiece.

Discussion
Thisdialogisdisplayedwheneverapawnismovedtoitseighthrank.Selectthedesiredpiecefor
pawnpromotionandpresstheOkbutton.Double-clickinganimagewiththeleftmousebuttonselects
thecorrespondingpieceandclosesthedialog.

Adjust Animation Dialog


Menu

Replay|AdjustAnimation

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Toadjusttheanimationforslidingpieces,ChessCatdisplaystheAdjustAnimationdialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

FrameDelayMillisec

Slider

Specifiesadelayinmillisecondstowait
betweeneachanimationframewhen
animatingmoves(slidingthepieces)

FrameStepsize

Slider

Specifiesthenumberofstepseach
animationframeconsumes.Eachstepisa
singlepixel.

NextSize

PushButton

Selectsthenextboardsize.

Restart

PushButton

Restartsanimationofthecurrentgame.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandsavesallchanges.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutsaving
changes.

Defaults

PushButton

Resetsallvaluestofactorysettings.

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Discussion
Important:Youmustopenagamebeforeyoucanadjustanimation.FileAVRO1938.pgninthe
installationdirectorycontainsgames.
Animationistheslidingofthepieceswhenamoveisplayed.TheAdjustAnimationdialogallows
youtoadjusttheanimationtosuityourpreferences.Usetheslidercontrolstoadjustthespeedofthe
animation.Tooperateaslidercontrol,dragthesliderusingtheleftmousebutton.IftheAdjust
Animationdialogobscurestheboardyoucanmovethedialogbyclickingthedialog'stitlebarwith
theleftmousebuttonanddraggingthedialoganotherposition.
Animationisacombinationofaframestepsizeandaframedelay.Whenapieceismovedfromone
squaretoanother,ChessCatdrawsaninvisiblelinefromthecornerofonesquaretothesamecorner
oftheothersquare.ChessCatanimatestheslidingbymovingthepiecealongthatinvisibleline.Each
pixelalongtheinvisiblelineisastep.
Notallcomputersoperateatthesamespeed.Somearefasterthanothers.Onveryfastmachines,the
slidingofapiecefromonesquaretoanothercanhappenveryquickly.Toaccountfordifferent
computerspeeds,ChessCatallowsforadelayfactorbetweenanimationframes.Thedelayfactoris
howlongChessCatwaitsbetweenanimationframes.
Theanimationspeedselectedisspecifictoaparticularboardsize.PresstheNextSizebuttontoadjust
theanimationforthenextboardsize.
Ifthegamefinishesreplaybeforeyouhavemadeallyouradjustments,presstheRestartbuttonto
restarttheanimation.

Adorn Position Dialog


Menu

Edit|AdornPosition

Keyboard

Ctrl+R

Mouse

(none)

Toadornaposition,ChessCatdisplaystheAdornPositiondialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogadorningtheposition.

Cancel

PushButton

Closesthedialogwithoutadorningthe
position.

Clear

PushButton

Removesalladornmentsfromthe
position.

Reset

PushButton

Restoresadornmentsdisplayedwhenthe
dialogfirstopened.

(untitled)

AdornmentSet

Selectsadornmenttobeplaced.

KeyboardInterface

TextBox

Specifiesthesquareandadornmentsto
addorremove.

Set

PushButton

AppliesthevalueinKeyboard Interface.

Adornment Set

Discussion

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Useadornmentstomarkupaposition.Adornmentsdonotcarryoverintosubsequentpositions.You
cancontrolwhetherofnotadornmentsforapositionaredisplayedwhenthegameisreplayed(see
ViewMenu.)Toenableorsuppressadornmentseachtimeagameisopened,usetheOnOpen
PropertiespageonthePropertiesDialog(seeToolsMenu.)

Using the Mouse to Adorn a Position


Toadornapositionusingthemouse,youmay:

Addorremoveadornmentsbyclickingonthepositionusingthemouseleft-button.
Drawarrowsbyclickingonthepositionusingthemouseleft-buttonanddraggingthemouse.

Whenanadornmentisselected,thecursorchangestorepresenttheadornmentselectedandremains
setuntilanotheradornmentisselectedortheArrow Cursorisselected.Whenthecursorissettoan
adornment,left-clickingalikeadornmentontheboardremovestheadornment.
Toaddanarrowadornmentwiththemouse,selecttheArrow Adornmentfromtheadornmentset.
Left-clickonthesquarewherethearrowistostartmandthendragthemousewhileholdingdownthe
left-buttontothesquarewhereyouwantthearrowtoend.Releasetheleft-mousebutton.
Toremoveanarrowadornmentwiththemouse,selecttheArrow AdornmentfromtheAdornment Set
andleft-clickonthesquarewherethearrowstarts.Whenmorethanonearrowstartsinthatsquare,
thelastarrowaddedisthearrowremoved.

Using the Keyboard to Adorn a Postion


Toadornapositionusingthekeyboard,placethefocusontheKeyboard Interfacetextbox.Typein
commandsinoneoftheformatsshownbelowandthenpresstheSetbuttontoeffectthecommand.
Command Format for Dots and Crosses:"square=adornment"
Operand
Description
square

Algebraicnameofthesquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.

adornment

Use"."forabullet,and"x"foracross.Omittheadornmenttocleara
square.

Example

Action

a3=.

Setsabulletatthesquarea3.

a3=x

Setsacrossatthesquarea3.

a3=

Clearsthea3square.

Command Format for Arrows:"start-end"


Operand
Description
start

Algebraicnameofthestartingsquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.

end

Algebraicnameoftheendingsquaresuchasa1,e4,h8,etc.Omitthe
endingsquaretoremovethemostrecentarroworiginatingonthestarting
square.

Example

Action

e2-e4

Drawsanarrowstartingonsquaree2andendingonsquaree4.

e2-

Clearsthemostrecentarrowstartingonsquaree2.

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Page Margin Setup Dialog


Menu

File|PageMarginSetup

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Tochangethedefaultmarginsforprintoutput,ChessCatdisplaysthePageMarginSetupdialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Top

TextBox

Specifiesthemarginatthetopofthepage

Bottom

TextBox

Specifiesthemarginatthebottomofthe
page

Left

TextBox

Specifiesthemarginontheleftsideofthe
page.

Right

TextBox

Specifiesthemarginontherightsideof
thepage.

Gutter

Textbox

Specifiesthesizeofthespacebetween
thecolumns.

Preview

DisplayArea

Displaysascaledpreviewofcurrent
marginsforbothportraitandlandscape
paperorientations.

Ok

PushButton

Acceptsthemarginsandclosesthe
dialog.

Defaults

PushButton

Resetsallmarginstofactorysettings.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutaccepting
changes.

Discussion
ChessCatacceptsmargininputininchesorcentimeters.

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Tospecifyinches,youmayuseanyofthefollowingmethods:

Omittheunitofmeasure.
Usethedouble-quotecharacer(").
Usetheabbreviation"in"afterthemeasure.

Tospecifycentimeters,usetheabbreviation"cm"afterthemeasure.
PresstheOkbuttontocauseChessCatacceptyourchanges,ortheCancelbuttontorejectthem.Press
theDefaultsbuttontorestorethemeasurementstofactorysettings.
Note:Thisdialogdoesnotselectthepapersizeforprinting.UseFile|PrintSetuptoselectthe
desiredorientationforprinting.

Engines Dialog
Menu

Tools|Engines

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

(none)

Toinstallchessenginesforanalysis,ChessCatdisplaystheEnginesdialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

DefaultEngine

DisplayArea

Displaysthenameofthedefaultanalysis
engine.Thedefaultanalysisengineisthe
engineusedtoanalyzewhenmenuitem
Tools|Analyze Positionisselected.After

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thedefaultengineisstartedyoucan
switchanotherenginewithmenuitem
Tools|Switch Engine.
AvailableEngines

ListBox

Listsinstalledengines.

New

PushButton

AddsanentrytotheAvailableEngines
listboxviatheNewEngineNameDialog.

Delete

PushButton

Deletestheselectedentryfromthe
AvailableEngineslistbox.

EngineName

DisplayArea

Displaysthenameoftheengine.This
nameisusedtoidentifythechessengine
intheanalysiswindowtitlebarwhenthe
engineisrunning.

DefaultEngine

CheckBox

Selectstheengineasthedefaultanalysis
engine.

FileName

TextBox

Specifiesthefullpathtothechessengine
executable.(Note: The File Name shown
in the screen shot above is just an
example. You must enter the location of
the chess engine on your computer.)

...

PushButton

Browsesthefilesystemtoselectthefile
nameforthechessengineexecutable.

EngineParameters

TextBox

Specifiescommandlineparameterstobe
passedtothechessenginewhenthe
engineisstarted.

Commandsafterxboard
andpost

MultipleLineText
Box

Specifiescommandstobeissuedtothe
chessengineafterithasbeenstartedand
afterChessCathassenttheWinboard
commands"xboard"and"post".Enter
eachcommandonaseparateline.Use
Ctrl+Entertoaddadditionallines.

ChangetoEngine
DirectoryforStartup

CheckBox

SpecifieswhetherornotChessCat
changesthecurrentdirectorytothe
directorycontainingthechessengine
beforestartingthechessengine.

FormatEngineOutput

CheckBox

SpecifieswhetherornotChessCat
formatsthethinkingoutputofthechess
engine.Whenchecked,ChessCatexpects
theengine'sthinkingoutputtobein
Winboardformat.(Please see discussion.)

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandsavesallchanges.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialoganddiscardsall
changes.

Discussion
Winboardthinkingoutputformatis:ply score time nodes pv
where:

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plyisanintegergivingcurrentsearchdepth.
scoreisanintegergivingcurrentevaluationincentipawns(ex:100=1pawn).
timeiscurrentsearchtimeincentiseconds(ex:1028=10.28seconds).
nodesisnumberofnodessearched.
pvisfreeformtextgivingcurrent"best"line.

WhenFormat Engine OutputischeckedChessCat:

Displaystheply,time,andnodesinformationintheAnalysisWindowtitlebar.
Reformatsthescorefromcentipawnstopawns.Forexample,100centipawnsisreformattedas
"(+1.00)".
Displaysthepvasreceivedfromthechessengine.(Note: ChessCat does not support pv
continuation lines.)

UncheckFormat Engine Outputtoseealloutputfromthechessengine.

New Engine Name Dialog


Menu

(none)

Keyboard

PresstheNewpushbuttonontheEnginesDialog.

Mouse

PresstheNewpushbuttonontheEnginesDialog.

ToenteranewenginenamefortheEnginesDialog,ChessCatdisplaystheNewEngineNamedialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitled)

TextBox

Specifiesthenameoftheengine.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandreturnsthename
entered.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutreturninga
name.

Discussion
TypethenameoftheengineinthetextboxandthenpresstheOkbutton.

Switch Engine Dialog


Menu

Tools|SwitchEngine

Keyboard

Ctrl+W

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Right-clickAnalysis window title bar.

Toswitchtoanewanalysisengine,ChessCatdisplaystheSwitchEnginedialog.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

(untitled)

ListBox

Listsavailableengines.UsetheEngines
Dialogtoaddengines.

Ok

PushButton

Selectsthehigh-lightedengineandcloses
thedialog.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithoutswitching
engines.

Discussion
SelectthedesiredengineinthelistboxandthenpresstheOkbutton.
Note:Thisdialogisonlyavailablewhenanengineisalreadyrunning.

Error Details Dialog


Menu

View|ErrorDetails

Keyboard

(none)

Mouse

Left-clickonanErrorDetailsGlyphintheGameScoreWindow.

TodisplayinformationaboutaPGNerrorencounteredwhenreadingagamefile,ChessCatdisplays
theErrorDetailsDialog.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

PlayertoMove

DisplayArea

Displaystheplayeronthemovewhenthe
errorwasfound.

InferredMoveNumber

DisplayArea

Displaystheinferredmovenumberwhen
theerrorwasfound.(Note: ChessCat
determines move numbers using the rules
of chess and ignores move numbers
actually found in the input file. ChessCat
starts with move number 1 unless the
SetFen tag is found, in which case
ChessCat starts with the full number
specified in the tag. As a result, the move
number inferred may differ from a move
number actually in the file at the point the
error is found.)

TextinError

DisplayArea

Displaysthetextwhichcausedtheerror.

Reason

DisplayArea

Displaysanexplanationoftheerror.

PGNSource

MultipleLineText
Box

DisplaysthecontentsofPGNsource
wheretheerroroccurred.Thetextinerror
isshownselected.(Note: Only the first
64,000 characters are displayed. )

Close

PushButton

Dismissesthedialog.

Previous

PushButton

Selectserrordetailsforthepreviouserror
whenmorethanoneerrorwasfound,and

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oneofthoseerrorsoccurredbeforethe
errorcurrentlydisplayed.
Next

PushButton

Selectserrordetailsforthenexterror
whenmorethanoneerrorwasfound,and
oneofthoseerrorsoccurredaftertheerror
currentlydisplayed.

Discussion
WhenanerroroccursduringreadingaPGNfile,ChessCatcapturesthedetailsoftheerrorand
attemptstocontinueloadingthePGNfile.ChessCatindicatesthepointinthegamescorewherethe
errorwasfoundbydisplayinganErrorsDetailGlyphonthegamescore.
Whentheerrorisinavariation,ChessCatreadstheremainderofthevariationascommentaryand
continuesreadingthefile.Whentheerroroccursinthemainline,ChessCatsimplyreadsinthe
remainderofthefileascommentary.
WhenthedialogisaccessedfromtheError DetailsitemontheViewmenu,ChessCatdisplaysany
mainlineerrorfirst.Aftertheintialdisplayofthedialog,anyothererrorsmaybeaccessedusingthe
PreviousandNextpushbuttons.

On Open Properties
UsethispaneltocustomizethesettingsChessCatuseseachtimeagameisopened.

ControlTypes

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Control Name

Type

Usage

Element

ListBox

Specifieshowthepropertiesofvarious
elementsoftheChessCatuserinterface
shouldbesetwhenagameisopened.
Checkingtheboxsetstheassociated
propertyon.Usethescrollbartoview
elementsnotdisplayed.

RecentlyUsedFileList
Entries(0-16)

TextBox

Specifiesthenumberoffilestodisplayas
recentlyusedfilesontheFilemenu.

Linares

RadioButton

SelectstheLinarespiecesetasthedefault
pieceset.

Hastings

RadioButton

SelectstheHastingspiecesetasthe
defaultpiecset.

Zurich

RadioButton

SelectstheZurichpiecesetasthedefault
pieceset.

Board1-21X21

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize1asthedefaultboard
size.

Board2-34X34

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize2asthedefaultboard
size.

Board3-40X40

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize3asthedefaultboard
size.

Board4-50X50

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize4asthedefaultboard
size.

Board5-64X64

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize5asthedefaultboard
size.

Board6-80X80

RadioButton

Selectsboardsize6asthedefaultboard
size.

Ok

PushButton

Closesthedialogandsavesallchanges.

Cancel

PushButton

Dismissesthedialogwithsavingpending
changes.

Apply

PushButton

Savespendingchangeswithoutclosing
thedialog.

Discussion
Element

Usage when Selected

ShowAdornments

Enablesthedisplayofadornments.

ShowBoardLabels

Labelstheboardforalgebraicnotation.

ShowLegalMovesforSelected
Piece

Highlightsavailablemovesforselectedpiece.

ShowSolitaireStyleGamescore

Selectssolitairemodewhenallgamesareopened.This
elementismutallyexclusivewithelementScroll
Gamescore to Last Move.

AutomateSolitaireReplay

Selectsautomaticreplayoftheopposingpiecesduring
solitairereplay.

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ShowNewGamewhenChessCat
Starts

AutomaticallyopensanewgamewhenChessCatstarts.

ScrollGamescoretoLastMove

Scrollsthegamescoretothelastmovewhenallgames
areopened.Thiselementismutallyexclusivewith
elementShow Solitaire Style Gamescore.

ShowGameWindowMaximized

Maximizesthegamewindowwhenagameisopened.

ClearPositiononSetup

Clearstheboardfirstwhensettingupaposition;
Otherwise,thestartingpositionforthesetupdialogis
thecurrentposition.

ReverseColors

OpensallgameswiththeBlackpiecesonthebottom.

ShowBoardOnly

Opensallgameswithonlytheboardvisible.

Note:TheSelectGameDialogmayoverridesomeelementswhenopeningagame.Elementsnot
displayedinthescreenshotarereachedbyscrollingthelistbox.

Colors and Fonts Properties


UsethiispaneltocustomizethecolorsandfontsusedbyChessCat.

ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

Element

ListBox

Listsallitemsforwhichcolorsmaybe

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specified.
ChooseColor

PushButton

PresentsthestandardWindowscolor
choicedialog.

(untitled)

DisplayArea

Displaysthecolorofthecurrently
selectedelement.

MonochromeBoard

CheckBox

Togglessquarecolorsonoroff.

Blackhand

RadioButton

Selectsablackhandasthecursorusedto
movepieces.

Whitehand

RadioButton

Selectsawhitehandasthecursorusedto
movepieces.

Font

ListBox

Listsallitemsforwhichafontmaybe
specified.

ChooseFont

PushButton

PresentsthestandardWindowsfont
choicedialog.

(untitled)

DisplayArea

Displaysthecolorofthecurrently
selectedfont.

SynchronizeGameScore
FontColors

CheckBox

Causesthecolorofallgamescoretext
fontstobesettosamecolorwheneverthe
colorofanygamescoretextfontis
changed.

Preview

DisplayArea

Previewsallcolorsandfonts.

FaceName

DisplayArea

Displaysthefacenameofthecurrently
selectedfont.

Size

DisplayArea

Displaysthefontsizeofthecurrently
selectedfont.

Styles

DisplayArea

Ennumeratesstypesofthecurrently
selectedfont.

Sample

DisplayArea

Displaysasameofthecurrentlyselected
font.

Defaults

PushButton

Resetsallvaluestofactorysettings.

Discussion
Thefontsshowninthepreviewareadonotchangesizewhenthefontsizechanges.Theactualfont
sizeisshownintheSamplearea.

Notation and Diagrams Properties


UsethispaneltocustomizethenotationanddiagramsdisplayedbyChessCat.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

King

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolforaking.

Queen

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolforaqueen.

Rook

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolforarook.

Bishop

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolfora
bishop.

Knight

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolfora
knight.

Pawn

TextBox

Specifiesthenotationsymbolforapawn.

Defaults(Notation)

PushButton

ResetsNotationvaluestofactorysettings.

Fontname

DisplayArea

Displaysthefontnametobeusedfor
diagrams.

Size

DisplayArea

Displaysthefontsizetobeusedfor
diagrams.

...

PushButton

Browsesthecomputerforavailablefonts.

Key

ListBox

Displaysthefontdiagramkeyforadialog
element.

Usage

ListBox

Displaysthediagramelementforan
associatedkey.

Key

TextBox

Specifiesthekeycodefortheselected

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diagramfontelement.Enterakey's3digitdecimalcodeforthosekeyswhich
cannotbeenteredusingthekeyboard.
Whenenteringakeyusingits3-digit
decimalcode,alwaysentertheleading
zeroforkeyvalueslessthan100.(Note:
ChessCat converts the space character to
its 3-digit decimal code "032".)
Set

PushButton

Setsthekeycodefortheselecteddiagram
fontelement.

Defaults(DiagramFont)

PushButton

ResetsDiagram Fontvaluestofactory
settings.

Discussion
ChessCatreadsandwritesgamesinPGNusingEnglishSAN.ChessCatusesthenotationsymbols
specifiedherewhendisplayingorprintingthegamescore.
ChessCatincludesadiagramfontcalledChessCat Diagram.Ifyouwishtouseanotherfontfor
diagrams,enterthekeysforyourfontintheappropriatediagramelements.

Heading Properties
Usethispaneltocustomizetheheadingthatappearsatthebeginningofascoresheet.

ControlTypes

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Control Name

Type

Usage

WorkArea

TextBox

Specifiestheformatoftheheadingfor
scoresheets.

Preview

ListBox

Previewstheheadingbasedonsimulated
data.

Suppress'?'in7-tagroster CheckBox

Specifieswhetherornotthe'?'default
characterinastandardPGNtagshouldbe
suppressed.

DataSimulation

ListBox

SpecifiessimulationofdataforPGNtags.

Preview

PushButton

RefreshesthePreviewlistbox.

Defaults

PushButton

Resetsallvaluestofactorysettings.

Discussion
ChessCatconstructstheheadinginGameScorewindowfromPGNtagsfoundinthegame.ChessCat
constructstheheadingaccordingtorulesspecifiedbymeta-characters(a meta-character is like a
command).Thefollowingtableliststhemeta-charactersandtheirmeanings:
Meta-Character

Meaning

"<"

MarksthebeginningofaPGNtag

">"

MarkstheendofaPGNtag

"{"

Marksthebeginningofconditionaltext

"}"

Markstheendofconditionaltext

"\"

Escapesthefollowingcharacterfromanymeta-charactermeaning.

Aheadingcanbeanytextyoudesire.TospecifyaPGNtag,enclosethetagin"<"and">"characters.
YoumayuseanyPGNtag.
The"{"and"}"charactersareusedtodenotesectionsthatareshownonlyifalltagscontainedwithin
thosecharactershavevalues.Ifanytagbetweenthebracesdoesnothaveavalue,theentiretext
betweenthebraceswillbesuppressed.
Anycharacterthatisnotameta-characterisdisplayedasentered,unlessthesectioncontainingitis
suppressed.Touseanymeta-characterasitself,includingthe"\",preceeditwiththeescapecharacter
"\".

Caption Properties
UsethispaneltocustomizethecaptionthatappearsonthegamewindowwhenChessCatopensa
gamefromaPGNlibrary.

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ControlTypes
Control Name

Type

Usage

WorkArea

TextBox

Specifiestheformatofthecaptionforthe
gamewindowofaPGNgameloaded
fromaPGNlibrary.

Preview

TextBox

Previewsthecaptionbasedonsimulated
data.

DataSimulation

ListBox

SpecifiessimulationofdataforPGNtags.

Suppress'?'charactersin7- CheckBox
tagroster

Specifieswhetherornotthe'?'default
characterinastandardPGNtagshouldbe
suppressed.

Preview

PushButton

RefreshesthePreviewtextbox.

Defaults

PushButton

Resetsallvaluestofactorysettings.

Discussion
ForPGNfileswhichcontainonlyonegame,ChessCatalwaysdisplaysthefilenameasthecaptionon
thegamewindowandthiscannotbechanged.However,forPGNfileswhichcontainmorethanone
game,ChessCatconstructsthecaptiononthegamewindowfromPGNtagsfoundinthegame.
ChessCatconstructsthecaptionaccordingtorulesspecifiedbymeta-characters(a meta-character is
like a command).Thefollowingtableliststhemeta-charactersandtheirmeanings:
Meta-Character

Meaning

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"<"

MarksthebeginningofaPGNtag

">"

MarkstheendofaPGNtag

"{"

Marksthebeginningofconditionaltext

"}"

Markstheendofconditionaltext

"\"

Escapesthefollowingcharacterfromanymeta-charactermeaning.

Acaptioncanbeanytextyoudesire.TospecifyaPGNtag,enclosethetagin"<"and">"characters.
YoumayuseanyPGNtag.
The"{"and"}"charactersareusedtodenotesectionsthatareshownonlyifalltagscontainedwithin
thosecharactershavevalues.Ifanytagbetweenthebracesdoesnothaveavalue,theentiretext
betweenthebraceswillbesuppressed.
Anycharacterthatisnotameta-characterisdisplayedasentered,unlessthesectioncontainingitis
suppressed.Touseanymeta-characterasitself,includingthe"\",preceeditwiththeescapecharacter
"\".

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